Women voters divided over Reservation Bill

Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, April 3 – As the countdown has started for the biggest democratic exercise in the country, women electorates in the capital city seemed to have two opinions on the issue of reservation for women in the corridors of power. With just a handful of women candidates of the State in the arena, once again the long pending bill on reservation has emerged in the discussion sessions of women groups and opinion is clearly divided.

But all these women agree that whether man or woman, each contesting candidate should have commitment towards the society and have a clean background.

A section of women who comprised prominent citizens, young working ladies and housewives as well and approached by The Assam Tribune were utterly dissatisfied with the political parties for giving only a few women a chance to contest the ensuing parliamentary polls, while the other section candidly expressed their stand by opposing the much debated 33 percent reservation for women in parliament and State assemblies.

It needs to be mentioned here that only three women candidates are in fray in the State – Bijoya Chakravorty is the AGP-BJP alliance candidate and is contesting from the prestigious Guwahati Lok Sabha constituency, Ranee Narah who is the Congress candidate is contesting from the Lakhimpur constituency and Laxmi Orang who is the AUDF candidate is contesting from the Tezpur constituency.

Some of the women voters who were in various age group said that the political parties were not sincere about the bill regarding 33 percent reservation for women and claimed that the present scenario in the State endorsed their accusation. They said if the political parties were really sincere than they would have given more women candidates the opportunity to contest the polls.

Dr Kunja Medhi, former head of the department of Political Science, Gauhati University expressed her views in this manner: “Today’s politics is all about money, muscle and manpower. Under this prevailing condition, there is no other way but to give 33 percent reservation to women. It is unfortunate that so few women candidates are contesting from the State. There should have been not less than 30 women candidates from different professional background in the fray.”

Dr Medhi said that she as a conscious citizen wanted a candidate who was committed to the common people.

Another woman voter, Putali Kayastha who is a teacher and from the Ganeshguri area demanded 50 percent reservation for women in parliament and the State assemblies. “No political party is ready to give equal representation to women and I am of the opinion that women should boycott the polls until the bill is passed.”

Nani Thakur a housewife from the city’s Panjabari area who supports the 33 percent reservation for women said that the bill was important under the present circumstances, but cautioned that it should be a means to an end. “In the selection of candidates, whether woman or man, the political parties should give preference to a candidate’s educational background, oratorial skills and clean image as he/she would be representing the State. Emotion should not be the criteria of selection,” observed Thakur.

Shyamalima Dutta, an advocate by profession and from the Ujanbazar area said that reservation was necessary for women in the seat of power to ensure security and equal rights to all women in the country. Dutta added that the candidate of her choice is someone who is well qualified and with a voice to raise the problems of the State in the parliament.

Jona Barthakur also from Ujanbazar and a housewife said that the political parties have not taken women in full confidence and that is the reason of their anathema to field more women candidates.

Abha Bhattacharya, a housewife above 70 and from Wireless area however stressed that representation in politics should not be the benchmark for judging the progress of women. “Women have strength and politics is not the yardstick to judge their empowerment,” she maintained.

Those who believed that women should achieve everything on their own merit right to political power also strongly placed their points. Reema Barthakur, a young lady dismissed the demand for reservation and also criticized the political parties for fielding candidates who were not of people’s choice. “Laxmi Orang is not a choice of the people,” she said adding that corrupted women should not get a chance to contest the elections. “We need quality candidates who are well informed and have the will to work for the society,” concluded Reema.

Nandita Gohain, a teacher by profession also rejected the demand for reservation and expressed that most of the candidates in the fray were not of her choice. “Just look what contribution these candidates have made to the society. We want someone who will really work for the society,” she added.

Ranjumani Gohain said that political power to women should not come through reservation and criticized the selection of candidates. “I will vote for the candidate who is committed to the society and not party wise,” she said. ASSAM TRIBUNE